Thanks for all the terrific replies...I agree with them all. Al!!!!! It was terrific to hear from you! You have been missed.
Wendell, I really like your suggestions and I will respond to Anthem this way. Ansharda, I have thought long and hard about what a physician strike would do. Although I am basically in favor, I cannot commit financial suicide. I am fairly certain there would be too many "scabs" for it to work. And, I would see it as a great opportunity for insurance companies to push the door wide open for mid-levels to take our places. David, yes I am contracted with Anthem but those contracts were signed years ago when Anthem happened to be the better payor in the local market. I am not an Anthem Medicare provider because I refuse to sign a whole new Anthem contract, which I would have to do.
No, I really do not see anything happening until and unless we remove the decision for one's health care from the control of the employer. As long as corporations are choosing the plans for people, there can be no free market pressures. Employers care only about meeting federal mandates. And, the more cheaply they can do this, the better for them (which I have no problem with in theory). If each employee were given the money their employer spends on them for health insurance and researched and bought their own policies I believe we would see more equity for all. There would be no physician/insurance contracts. Insurance companies and providers would all have to be more competitive within their own markets.
